Thoth Tarot Fans, Should I? Help, please...

[Whisper]

I've had the Crowley Thoth Tarot (the one illustrated by Lady Harris) for years and, after trying to work with it, I got really spooked.

 

EmpyreanKnight[/member] suggests that I should give the Thoth another try. Only if I can find a Thoth deck that appeals to me.

 

So, would all of you kind souls who are familiar and really like your Thoth decks be willing to help me out with some suggestions of other Thoth tarots? Same system, but other artists, other visions, other art?

 

Thank you, kindly.  <3

[Rose Lalonde]

Hey, Shivani, if you haven't seen it, there's a thread you might like on Thoth inspired decks. Some stick closer to the Thoth than others, so it depends on what you're looking for. Since the original isn't your cuppa, you might enjoy a hybrid deck that blends aspects of Thoth with aspects that will remind you more of RWS. Or even a Golden Dawn inspired deck, since both Thoth and RWS were inspired by that.

 

Tabula Mundi, my favorite, is very true to the Thoth, but you might enjoy that it doesn't look like the Thoth. All original art.  I didn't mention in the thread above, but it has a terrific companion book that's available as part of the Fool's Dog app for iPhone and Android, so if you do apps, it'd be easy to check out without spending much. (Her Rosetta, which looks much more like the Thoth, also has an app and great book.)

 

I'm trying to think if there are other Thoth inspired decks with good apps for ease of getting to know them... (Though you may not use tarot apps, in which case it wouldn't matter. :) )

 

--- Edited to add: As far as, "Should I..." I bet you didn't mean that literally, but if you did, I'd say not if the Thoth is something you feel you should learn about, but not something you'd actually enjoy. Life's too short. :)

[MollyCat]

--- Edited to add: As far as, "Should I..." I bet you didn't mean that literally, but if you did, I'd say not if the Thoth is something you feel you should learn about, but not something you'd actually enjoy. Life's too short. :)

 

Oh, so agree with this!

[Whisper]

I don't feel any obligation, Rose Lalonde[/member]  and MollyCat[/member] .  <3 I love all cards and am open to all systems. [emoji4] There is just something about the Crowley and the later Thoth that spooked me when I read with them.

 

The Tabula Mundi is vibrant, but it seems that the full size deck is no longer available. Only the mini. Am I wrong?

 

I just realized, though, that I have the Ancient Egyptian with book, which, after research, I believe is a blend of RWS and Thoth. I love that deck. LOL I also have both Haindl decks, but I am not crazy about the imagery on those cards. Books are great, but I just don't use those decks. I also have the Rohrig that is one of my jewels, but it is far too precious to me, now, so I keep it in my collection and don't use it.

 

From what I can see, the Vision Quest speaks to me the loudest and feels comforting (which I never expected with a Thoth deck, unless reading with it would be a different thing), together with the Ancient Egyptian. I can only get the cards of the Vision Quest, but the app provides the booklet.

 

Is the Vision Quest book good?

 

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I really value your opinions. [emoji4]

 

 

[Rose Lalonde]

 

Hi Shivani[/member]. The full size (which is a little larger than your average tarot card btw) of TM is still available at

http://www.tarotcart.com/Tabula-Mundi-Colores-Arcus-78-TM-CA.htm

(Book M available as well)

 

Journey into Egypt is beautiful, and always looked to me like a deck that's very readable if you know RWS. But from what I remember of the AT review, the system is the artist's own creation based on the ancient Egyptian astrology. Associations shown on the cards are different from those on the Thoth, and a card like the 6 of Swords... it look like the RWS boat, rather than Thoth's "Science" -- whereas the Vision Quest's 6 of Air "Clarity" does look inspired by the Thoth to me.  Hopefully someone will come along who knows more about the Vision Quest book. I don't have that deck or know it very well.

 

 

Happy hunting, whatever you decide!  ;D

[Whisper]

 

Hi Shivani[/member]. The full size (which is a little larger than your average tarot card btw) of TM is still available at

http://www.tarotcart.com/Tabula-Mundi-Colores-Arcus-78-TM-CA.htm

(Book M available as well)

 

Journey into Egypt is beautiful, and always looked to me like a deck that's very readable if you know RWS. But from what I remember of the AT review, the system is the artist's own creation based on the ancient Egyptian astrology. Associations shown on the cards are different from those on the Thoth, and a card like the 6 of Swords... it look like the RWS boat, rather than Thoth's "Science" -- whereas the Vision Quest's 6 of Air "Clarity" does look inspired by the Thoth to me.  Hopefully someone will come along who knows more about the Vision Quest book. I don't have that deck or know it very well.

 

 

Happy hunting, whatever you decide!  ;D

 

Thank you, Rose. [emoji4] I meant this Ancient Egyptian. It is modeled on the Thoth, right?

[Rose Lalonde]

 

 

Hi Shivani[/member]. The full size (which is a little larger than your average tarot card btw) of TM is still available at

http://www.tarotcart.com/Tabula-Mundi-Colores-Arcus-78-TM-CA.htm

(Book M available as well)

 

Journey into Egypt is beautiful, and always looked to me like a deck that's very readable if you know RWS. But from what I remember of the AT review, the system is the artist's own creation based on the ancient Egyptian astrology. Associations shown on the cards are different from those on the Thoth, and a card like the 6 of Swords... it look like the RWS boat, rather than Thoth's "Science" -- whereas the Vision Quest's 6 of Air "Clarity" does look inspired by the Thoth to me.  Hopefully someone will come along who knows more about the Vision Quest book. I don't have that deck or know it very well.

 

 

Happy hunting, whatever you decide!  ;D

 

Thank you, Rose. I meant this Ancient Egyptian. It is modeled on the Thoth, right?

 

 

Wow, I don't read well!  :-[ I guess I was thinking of the Journey... images from the beautiful decks thread or deck of the week recently and got it stuck in my head. Yes, Ancient Egyptian is modeled on the Thoth (it has some different card titles from the Thoth like the Vision Quest; I know of a few readers who really like it)  I don't have it so am not much help, even when I'm talking about the right deck.  :o ;D

[Whisper]

 

 

Hi Shivani[/member]. The full size (which is a little larger than your average tarot card btw) of TM is still available at

http://www.tarotcart.com/Tabula-Mundi-Colores-Arcus-78-TM-CA.htm

(Book M available as well)

 

Journey into Egypt is beautiful, and always looked to me like a deck that's very readable if you know RWS. But from what I remember of the AT review, the system is the artist's own creation based on the ancient Egyptian astrology. Associations shown on the cards are different from those on the Thoth, and a card like the 6 of Swords... it look like the RWS boat, rather than Thoth's "Science" -- whereas the Vision Quest's 6 of Air "Clarity" does look inspired by the Thoth to me.  Hopefully someone will come along who knows more about the Vision Quest book. I don't have that deck or know it very well.

 

 

Happy hunting, whatever you decide!  ;D

 

Thank you, Rose. I meant this Ancient Egyptian. It is modeled on the Thoth, right?

 

 

Wow, I don't read well!  :-[ I guess I was thinking of the Journey... images from the beautiful decks thread or deck of the week recently and got it stuck in my head. Yes, Ancient Egyptian is modeled on the Thoth (it has some different card titles from the Thoth like the Vision Quest; I know of a few readers who really like it)  I don't have it so am not much help, even when I'm talking about the right deck.  :o ;D

 

I have the Journey into Egypt that I absolutely adore. You probably equated me with it. LOL No worries. I appreciate your feedback and the link, Rose.  <3

[MollyCat]

 

 

Hi Shivani[/member]. The full size (which is a little larger than your average tarot card btw) of TM is still available at

http://www.tarotcart.com/Tabula-Mundi-Colores-Arcus-78-TM-CA.htm

(Book M available as well)

 

Journey into Egypt is beautiful, and always looked to me like a deck that's very readable if you know RWS. But from what I remember of the AT review, the system is the artist's own creation based on the ancient Egyptian astrology. Associations shown on the cards are different from those on the Thoth, and a card like the 6 of Swords... it look like the RWS boat, rather than Thoth's "Science" -- whereas the Vision Quest's 6 of Air "Clarity" does look inspired by the Thoth to me.  Hopefully someone will come along who knows more about the Vision Quest book. I don't have that deck or know it very well.

 

 

Happy hunting, whatever you decide!  ;D

 

Thank you, Rose. I meant this Ancient Egyptian. It is modeled on the Thoth, right?

 

 

Wow, I don't read well!  :-[ I guess I was thinking of the Journey... images from the beautiful decks thread or deck of the week recently and got it stuck in my head. Yes, Ancient Egyptian is modeled on the Thoth (it has some different card titles from the Thoth like the Vision Quest; I know of a few readers who really like it)  I don't have it so am not much help, even when I'm talking about the right deck.  :o ;D

 

I have the Journey into Egypt that I absolutely adore. You probably equated me with it. LOL No worries. I appreciate your feedback and the link, Rose.  <3

 

I don’t think Barrett’s ‘Ancient Egyptian Tarot’ is modelled on the Thoth.  I used it a lot many years ago.  Double checked with Aeclectic reviews which reinforce the RWS connections.

 

However, apparently ‘Vision Quest’ is!  I just downloaded the app and the companion book says that it is Thoth inspired.  It looks a very sensitive deck and I look forward to exploring it later.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[MollyCat]

I have been looking at the Vision Quest cards and book in app form and think it is a deck worth using regularly.

 

Don't know enough about Thoth to say how Vision Quest matches that system but I think one could you use VQ

in spite of not knowing Thoth.  Vision Quest has integrity in its own right.

 

I remember many years ago watching a passionate argument on Aeclectic about this issue.  Angeles Arrien had written a book called the 'Tarot Handbook'  wherein she discussed more liberal ways os using the Thoth.  I owned her book then and had used it myself.  The debate was unpleasant as ideological disputes can be,  and I put Thoth aside again.  I probably won't return it now because of limited time.

 

The broader questions in this discussion are perhaps about why one uses tarot in the first place and whether it is acceptable to deviate from individual systems such as Golden Dawn, RWS, Thoth, and Marseille (for example).  Does one have to be purist?

 

The issues don't concern me too much now (as I am too old  :) )

 

You could use 'Vision Quest' without difficulty, Shivani, and would delight as I have this morning, in exploring the designer

intentions behind the deck.

 

The images are beautiful, and the system coherent.  I did a quick and simple reading and it was 'spot on'.

[Whisper]

I have been looking at the Vision Quest cards and book in app form and think it is a deck worth using regularly.

 

Don't know enough about Thoth to say how Vision Quest matches that system but I think one could you use VQ

in spite of not knowing Thoth.  Vision Quest has integrity in its own right.

 

I remember many years ago watching a passionate argument on Aeclectic about this issue.  Angeles Arrien had written a book called the 'Tarot Handbook'  wherein she discussed more liberal ways os using the Thoth.  I owned her book then and had used

it myself.  The debate was unpleasant as ideological disputes can be,  and I put Thoth aside again.  I probably won't return it now because of limited time.

 

The broader questions in this discussion are perhaps about why one uses tarot in the first place and whether it is acceptable to

deviate from individual systems such as Golden Dawn, RWS, Thoth, and Marseille (for example).  Does one have to be purist?

 

I realise I've co-opted Rose's thread, and won't continue the discussion here.  (Sorry, Rose, about doing this in your journal)

 

The issues don't concern me too much now (as I am too old  :) )

 

You could use 'Vision Quest' without difficulty, Shivani, and would delight as I have this morning, in exploring the designer

intentions behind the deck.

 

The images are beautiful, and the system coherent.

 

Thank you, MollyCat. [emoji4]

 

I'm not a purist. I really like it when authors develop their own variations on a theme and deviate from the established systems. (Changes to the RWS are more comfortable to me than changes to the Thoth with which I am not familiar). In fact, one deck I dislike intensely and cannot  is the original Rider WaiteDreams of Gaia, for example, is a real change, and even my Sacred India has more cards.

 

I was under the impression that the Ancient Egyptian is a mixture of both RWS and T. I used that deck a lot and enjoyed it at the time. I guess that was before I discovered the Journey into Egypt.  ;D

 

If you mean this thread, MollyCat, I started it to ask people's help choosing a Thoth like deck, so, no worries.

 

I like all cards. Look at all the variations there are in the different oracles. They are so different from each other. I'm even enjoying what some of our members are doing with ordinary playing cards; even collectors' cards like the Dune book ones.

 

Regarding all these different debates, I can honestly say that I am in the same position you're in.  ;D

 

I love my Tarot and have enjoyed all those that have been inspired by the RWS in some way, but I think the Vision Quest has a really pleasant energy. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to look into this for me. It's very kind.  <3 <3 <3  I've added the VS cards to my list.

[MollyCat]

Thanks, Shivani!

 

I edited my original post when I saw that we were not in Rose's journal.  Still finding my way

around Tapatalk but feel I may simply return to the web pages  :).  I'm now on the web page.

 

This is an interesting article on the differences and similarities between Thoth and RWS decks

 

http://starlight-tarot.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/tarot-traditions-thoth-vs-rws.html

 

To be honest, I don't think I ever looked into these differences in detail, and probably won't now.

 

I had a visceral negative reaction to the Thoth deck when I bought my first deck.  The store owner didn't have a

an RWS so I ended up getting the 'Old English Tarot' and the 'Witches Tarot' by Ellen Cannon Reed as my first decks.

At the time I had a basic book on learning Tarot by Julia Sharman Burke.

 

It took me some time to feel comfortable with the original art of both deck systems.  I finally chose a redrawn

and recoloured version of the RWS and then the Morgan Greer to learn from.

 

As time went on I came to like and admire the work of PCS and Freida Harris  :)

[katrinka]

This is an interesting article on the differences and similarities between Thoth and RWS decks

 

http://starlight-tarot.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/tarot-traditions-thoth-vs-rws.html

 

Apologies if I'm coming off like a pedant, but she lost me when she misspelled "Aleister".  ;D

[MollyCat]

Like I misspelled Frieda  :)

 

I learned something today about the Thoth, at least.

 

And how all those years ago I made some irrational calls  :)

[Jewel]

I love the Cosmic Tribe  8)

[Whisper]

I love the Cosmic Tribe  8)

 

My dear, Jewel, I have tried to deal with the Cosmic Tribe, but I am so put off by the majority of the images that I cannot even look at it. It's me, I know. I have such an inexplicable, visceral dislike for it. It's vibrant and inclusive, but I just can't handle it.

 

Interesting how we all react so differently to all these wonderful cards.

[Jewel]

My dear, Jewel, I have tried to deal with the Cosmic Tribe, but I am so put off by the majority of the images that I cannot even look at it. It's me, I know. I have such an inexplicable, visceral dislike for it. It's vibrant and inclusive, but I just can't handle it.

 

Interesting how we all react so differently to all these wonderful cards.

~chuckles~ it is not a deck for everyone that is for sure!  What about the Via Tarot?  it is OOP but it is beautiful.

[Whisper]

My dear, Jewel, I have tried to deal with the Cosmic Tribe, but I am so put off by the majority of the images that I cannot even look at it. It's me, I know. I have such an inexplicable, visceral dislike for it. It's vibrant and inclusive, but I just can't handle it.

 

Interesting how we all react so differently to all these wonderful cards.

~chuckles~ it is not a deck for everyone that is for sure!  What about the Via Tarot?  it is OOP but it is beautiful.

 

Now, that one is a different story.  :D

[Hedera]

A very lighthearted deck with some Thoth influences (depending on who you ask - but it does feel like a variation on the Thoth to me, with a few dashes of RWS) is the Sun & Moon tarot.

There is even a version in a tin!

(Although the art in the larger size is already quite small; I've trimmed the deck, leaving only the card names at the bottom - will probably take those off too, at some point - and now it's a lovely pocket size)

 

Not light-hearted, but beloved by many (including myself) is Ian Daniel's tarot of the Vampyres - which comes with a truly excellent book.

 

Oh, and the Parrott tarot is a playful Thoth clone!

Not sure if it's still available, and the artwork is, er, charmingly rustic ;) But I love it

 

[EmpyreanKnight]

Not light-hearted, but beloved by many (including myself) is Ian Daniel's tarot of the Vampyres - which comes with a truly excellent book.

 

Hear hear! It's not as esoteric as most Thoth-inspired decks, but it gives excellent shadow readings, at least for me. Superb companion book too.